Palestinians Make Statehood Bid At UN

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has submitted his bid to the UN for recognition of a Palestinian state. To rapturous applause in the General Assembly, he urged the Security Council to back a state with pre-1967 borders. He said the Palestinians had entered negotiations with Israel with sincere intentions, but blamed the building of Jewish settlements for their failure. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was reaching out to Palestinians and blamed them for refusing to negotiate. “I continue to hope that President Abbas will be my partner in peace,” he said.

Lisa Mullins gets more from the BBC’s Kim Ghattas at the United Nations.